1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,380 Alright, welcome to the Adaptex Podcast where we have conversations with individuals who 2 00:00:04,380 --> 00:00:09,460 are building accessible businesses, advocating for inclusion, or excelling in adaptive sports. 3 00:00:09,460 --> 00:00:12,520 Our intention is never to speak on behalf of those with disabilities, but provide a 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,260 platform with insights into a more accessible world. 5 00:00:15,260 --> 00:00:17,220 Today we are joined by Joe LeMar. 6 00:00:17,220 --> 00:00:21,600 Joe has spent more than 30 years serving as a coach, primarily in cross-country, indoor 7 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:23,380 and outdoor track and field. 8 00:00:23,380 --> 00:00:27,020 In addition to being a coach, Joe has also been a Paralympic medalist and world champion 9 00:00:27,020 --> 00:00:28,780 in wheelchair softball. 10 00:00:28,780 --> 00:00:32,680 Joe brings his experience in relationships with Special Olympics, Olympics, and Paralympics 11 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:37,120 together to lead the Boston Achilles team, a fully inclusive running club of Boston. 12 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,240 Joe, thank you for joining me today. 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,400 Yeah, thanks for having me. 14 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:43,160 I probably could have fixed the grammar in that. 15 00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:47,320 So you're a Paralympic medalist in running activities and then a world champion in wheelchair 16 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,800 softball, just to differentiate between the two. 17 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:58,120 So prior to being a Paralympic athlete, you were an accomplished track and field athlete. 18 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:06,080 So maybe taking us back to your early career with running as a whole before you became 19 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:07,720 an adaptive athlete. 20 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:09,240 Yeah, definitely. 21 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:14,320 So as a kid, I was active in all sports. 22 00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:20,080 I was always outside, whether it would be playing in the neighborhood, playing on the 23 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:26,280 streets, whether it be kickball, kick the can, whatever it was back then, or running 24 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:31,320 over to the park to jump in a baseball game with all the kids in the neighborhood or onto 25 00:01:31,320 --> 00:01:34,880 the basketball court playing basketball. 26 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,120 In middle school, I started really getting into soccer. 27 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,160 So I was really a big time soccer player then. 28 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:49,480 But I found out one day at the beach that I had a lump on my foot and we went and had 29 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:57,480 it looked at and it turned out to be a tumor that needed to be removed. 30 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:05,840 And at that time, I was just a kid saying, what's going on here? 31 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:12,560 And not having any idea to what a tumor was in the first place, being a growth that could 32 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:23,080 go and affect your entire life and had the surgery to have it removed. 33 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:28,520 It actually drew back the following year when I was in eighth grade. 34 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:34,080 And at that time, they had to amputate the toe next to my big toe. 35 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:40,380 And I was told at that time that I'd have a hard time walking, nevermind running. 36 00:02:40,380 --> 00:02:46,640 So hearing that and hearing a doctor tell me that, I decided I had friends that were 37 00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:48,040 running cross-country. 38 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:52,760 So I'm like, all right, forget about soccer because it's going to be difficult and hurt 39 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,240 all the time kicking a ball and everything around. 40 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,720 I'm like, let's see if I can get away with running on it. 41 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:04,480 So I ran cross-country indoor and outdoor track all three seasons, almost all four years 42 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,040 of high school at Brockton High. 43 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:14,560 I ended up becoming New England champ indoors in the mile, which was a huge feat knowing 44 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:21,640 that the entire time, the year before, the tumor resurfaced again when I was a junior. 45 00:03:21,640 --> 00:03:26,280 And I was told at that time that they would definitely have to amputate the foot because 46 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:31,200 it was throughout the entire foot and they could not get it all. 47 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:32,740 And I bided my time. 48 00:03:32,740 --> 00:03:37,360 I was literally begging the doctor not to take it right then and there when they wanted 49 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,440 to during that cross-country season. 50 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:47,160 And I ended up getting away with running cross-country and indoors the entire seasons and then a 51 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,440 couple of meets outdoors. 52 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:55,600 And then it was time to have the foot unfortunately amputated my staining year of high school. 53 00:03:55,600 --> 00:04:00,040 Were you having to weigh the pros and cons of kind of prolonging that procedure where 54 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:04,160 the doctor is telling you that it could have longer term implications if you didn't get 55 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:05,640 it done sooner? 56 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:06,640 Absolutely. 57 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:12,720 You know, and it could go spread throughout the leg and hearing all those stories. 58 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:18,080 But we were just going constantly back for visits to make sure that we were getting it 59 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:23,680 sized and everything else to know that it wasn't spreading further and everything. 60 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:30,800 So that's the only reason I was able to get away with finishing that indoor season. 61 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:36,600 And then you've had some setbacks in the years following the initial amputation, correct? 62 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:41,480 You had to have multiple surgeries to resolve. 63 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:49,200 So after having the big major surgery and everything, I got back into running, found 64 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,440 out about running, you know, which was unbelievable. 65 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:58,440 A nurse actually brought me a Runners World magazine that had an article in it on the 66 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,560 Paralympics. 67 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:05,120 And I was like, this is what I want to do. 68 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:11,120 And I went right to my prosthesis and everything and asked, can you make me a running leg? 69 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,840 And they said, no problem. 70 00:05:13,840 --> 00:05:15,840 And next thing I got involved. 71 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:26,320 And that was probably took six months after the amputation to get into a really good walking 72 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:27,840 leg and everything. 73 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:33,400 You know, I probably went through one or two different sockets throughout the four or five 74 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:41,080 months and then boom, once we got that fit down, everything else was pretty much clear 75 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,560 sailing. 76 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:54,080 And I went on to compete in Barcelona in 92 and won the 400 meter run over there. 77 00:05:54,080 --> 00:06:01,120 Then in 93, I started having a few issues in which I was still growing at the time. 78 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:08,600 So I actually bottomed out and split through the skin and everything else. 79 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:15,080 So I had to have a revision done at that time to go and, you know, lose a couple more inches 80 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:19,820 so that my stump would be fine after that. 81 00:06:19,820 --> 00:06:26,520 Before we dive into the Paralympic experience, could you have competed in high school as 82 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,920 an amputee? 83 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:33,340 If you had had that surgery earlier, would you have been able to compete in traditional 84 00:06:33,340 --> 00:06:35,960 track and field with a running blade? 85 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:43,840 Oh, I believe I could have, but I didn't know anything at all about any type of disabled 86 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:44,840 sports. 87 00:06:44,840 --> 00:06:45,840 Yeah. 88 00:06:45,840 --> 00:06:46,840 Yeah. 89 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:50,720 Not even from like a competency standpoint, like I'm sure you'd be fast enough to run. 90 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:56,560 But at the time, was the landscape of inclusion, was it different? 91 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:57,560 It was non-existent. 92 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:58,560 Yeah. 93 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:02,360 I wonder if you would have been allowed to compete or if people would have seen it as 94 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,200 an unfair advantage. 95 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:13,640 Even at the time that I had a running blade and everything else, I was trying to find 96 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:20,040 races and tried to find organizations that I could fit into. 97 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:26,600 I was pushed off to the Special Olympics and they told me, no, you don't belong here. 98 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:27,960 You don't belong with us. 99 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:34,600 Then I finally found out about Disabled Sports USA and everything. 100 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,120 That was the path to go down to get into the Paralympics. 101 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:47,600 But then again, I wish we had the technology we have now to go on Google and just say, 102 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,420 oh, here we go. 103 00:07:49,420 --> 00:07:50,920 It's all opened up to me. 104 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:57,800 But nope, there are lots of phone calls and lots of being sent in the wrong directions 105 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,600 and you learn from it. 106 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:05,600 Again, nowadays they have it a lot easier. 107 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:11,960 What was that qualification process like in 92 or the years beforehand to qualify for 108 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,200 Barcelona? 109 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:20,440 It was pretty much the top three in each event qualified to go on to Barcelona. 110 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:28,160 Coming from a distance background, back then they thought that amputees, leg amputees especially, 111 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,760 couldn't run that far at the time. 112 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:38,680 So it was like the furthest event for a below knee amputee was the 400 meters. 113 00:08:38,680 --> 00:08:46,880 That was a little disappointing, again, being a miler having to become a sprinter. 114 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:54,440 Did I read that for Barcelona you were in TS2, but then in a later competition you were 115 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:55,440 in T44? 116 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:56,440 Is that correct? 117 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:01,320 Yeah, they're the same things. 118 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:06,800 The classifications just changed over the years so they started using different terminology. 119 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,720 Yeah, I figured that was going to be my question. 120 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:18,400 What are the pros and cons, and maybe there are no cons, of the Paralympic classification 121 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:19,760 system? 122 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,000 Did you have any difficulty with them? 123 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:28,280 Anything that you can identify as a challenge? 124 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:32,960 So throughout the years there were a number of challenges. 125 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:45,120 It was at certain events, like it was the 1999 World Championships over in Spain. 126 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:50,600 They had us classified with people with cerebral palsy. 127 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,440 It was like, what are you talking about? 128 00:09:53,440 --> 00:10:00,400 How is that fair for them to be running against a leg amputee? 129 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:07,880 At that event I ended up not only losing the 800, but I lost my world record. 130 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:13,280 It was literally right at the line for a lean to somebody with cerebral palsy. 131 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:16,480 I'm like, how is this fair? 132 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:23,120 Again, it was the governing bodies at the time that didn't understand the differences 133 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,080 or didn't care to look at the differences. 134 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:30,000 All they wanted was for everybody just to compete. 135 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,320 So that's what happened. 136 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:40,400 There's probably something to be said about inclusion of abilities while also having a 137 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:43,480 level playing field. 138 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:48,400 That record that you lost was resolved after the fact, correct? 139 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,200 A few years later, yes. 140 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:58,120 I got a certificate in the mail literally that said, world record holder and everything, 141 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,040 but I didn't get the gold medal from the World Championships. 142 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,600 Yeah, hardly a consolation prize. 143 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,720 Still only got the silver medal. 144 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:14,520 Between us and everybody now on the podcast, I ended up getting three silver medals that 145 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:15,520 year. 146 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:21,560 The 400, 800 and the 4x4 relay. 147 00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:27,980 That silver medal for the 800 is the only medal that I didn't bring home throughout 148 00:11:27,980 --> 00:11:29,040 my entire career. 149 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:32,840 My mother got every single medal except for that one. 150 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:39,980 That one went to a little kid over in Spain who was our helper throughout the entire two 151 00:11:39,980 --> 00:11:41,800 weeks that we were there and everything. 152 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:47,480 He would go and carry the laundry bag with all my clothes in it and my water bottle and 153 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,360 everything else, my spikes and stuff like that. 154 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,200 He was always assigned to every race of mine. 155 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,040 So he ended up getting that medal. 156 00:11:56,040 --> 00:12:06,400 How has Paralympic competition evolved over the last three decades even to more recently? 157 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,360 The more recent games were the first ones that were nationally televised, I believe, 158 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:15,720 and I'm sure there'll be even more coverage for the summer game. 159 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:22,400 How have you seen that landscape change over the last couple of decades? 160 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:23,400 It's great. 161 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,080 It's really wonderful to see. 162 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:30,120 You go and see the US OPC now. 163 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,200 United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. 164 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,160 Where Paralympics is in there. 165 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,040 That wasn't taking place when I was competing. 166 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:43,040 It was just the US Olympic Committee. 167 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:47,100 The US Paralympic Committee had their own governing body. 168 00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:55,400 So seeing that it's at the Olympic level as well as the Olympic and Paralympic Committee, 169 00:12:55,400 --> 00:13:01,000 overseeing things, it's tremendous to know that they are hand in hand right now and to 170 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:09,080 know that every country that wants to host the Olympics has to go and host the Paralympics 171 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,120 those few weeks later. 172 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:17,020 That's a tremendous thing to accomplish and see. 173 00:13:17,020 --> 00:13:21,480 Then you start seeing the level of our Paralympic athletes right now. 174 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:28,240 It's like, yeah, let's go and see a couple of elite basketball players in the NBA go 175 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:32,840 and try playing basketball in a wheelchair. 176 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,440 See how they feel a couple of hours after pushing. 177 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:43,560 How can you dispel that narrative that Paralympic competition is less than or adaptive athletes 178 00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:48,280 are less than? 179 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:52,120 Right there, less than, it's far from it. 180 00:13:52,120 --> 00:14:00,520 If anybody who's a professional at any level decides to go and challenge a Paralympic athlete 181 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:07,240 who is at that elite level, there's no question they'll realize and get the respect that they 182 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,560 are an athlete. 183 00:14:09,560 --> 00:14:18,200 Do you think it's useful then as an educational experience for able-bodied individuals, and 184 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:24,360 we'll just use that as a differentiating term, to experience and participate in seated and 185 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,720 adaptive sports? 186 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,560 I think it would be wonderful. 187 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,600 I think it should start at a younger age and everything. 188 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,800 I think you go and look at some of the models. 189 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:41,080 Canada goes and has able-bodied kids playing wheelchair basketball all the time in some 190 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,080 of their schools. 191 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:48,560 It's just so that those kids who are physically challenged, who are in need of using a wheelchair 192 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:55,320 and everything, are able to go and have phys ed classes that allow them to play with their 193 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,960 peers. 194 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:04,600 It would be great to have that in the US at some of the schools and everything. 195 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:13,400 Even going and looking at sitting volleyball, for instance, you can go and accomplish tennis. 196 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:18,120 Anybody can go and accomplish tennis and know the difference between wheelchair tennis. 197 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:19,120 They get two bounces. 198 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:25,480 Regular tennis, you still only get the one, even though you're playing somebody in a wheelchair. 199 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:26,680 Yeah. 200 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:32,960 I thought I read online that you were part of a committee trying to push for the games 201 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:37,600 in Boston or the games in Massachusetts. 202 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,480 Is there any headway to that? 203 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:43,560 Do you actually see that as a logistic possibility? 204 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:46,480 That fell apart many years ago. 205 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:48,840 It was Paris ended up getting 2024. 206 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:52,440 LA took over 2028. 207 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,200 That was our loss, unfortunately. 208 00:15:55,200 --> 00:16:00,520 What is the biggest barrier or limitation that Boston presents in hosting an event like 209 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:01,520 that? 210 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:02,520 I don't know. 211 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:09,120 You get asked by politicians, unfortunately, who might not have wanted it and other people 212 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:15,320 that didn't want it because it would only be great for the tourist industry for the 213 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:16,320 future. 214 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:17,320 Yeah. 215 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,320 No, it's interesting. 216 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:26,800 I'm sure it's a huge logistical challenge, especially in a city like Boston that's already 217 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:30,760 congested to begin with. 218 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:34,880 The events were going to be spread out elsewhere. 219 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:40,880 Like Fall River was going to host the rowing or sailing or something like that. 220 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:47,720 It wasn't like everything was going to be in the center of downtown. 221 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:52,600 What was your transition like from going from a competitive athlete? 222 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:59,920 Or I guess maybe at what point did you decide that your competition career should be over 223 00:16:59,920 --> 00:17:05,880 and you could transition into your role as a coach? 224 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:11,000 I wouldn't say that my competition career is over because I still do compete in wheelchair 225 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:16,680 basketball, softball, and football right now. 226 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:28,800 But after Sydney in 2000, I got beat by a kid and I was like, I don't have it. 227 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,480 If I'm not going to be the best, I didn't want it. 228 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:38,240 It's sad to say, but if I wasn't going to be at that elite level in track and field, 229 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:44,400 that's when I knew that it was time to hang up the spikes. 230 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:48,480 When you transitioned to wheelchair sports? 231 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:54,040 I didn't transition to wheelchair sports for eight years. 232 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,360 I went and knew about them the whole time. 233 00:17:57,360 --> 00:18:02,760 I was going all the time to the Brockton VA to support the basketball players that were 234 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:07,160 playing and they would always ask me to play. 235 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,680 But I thought, I'm an amputee. 236 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,200 I don't belong in a wheelchair. 237 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,760 That's the mindset that I always had. 238 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:23,960 Then one of the guys that was always asking me year after year decided to go and roll 239 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:28,080 over my good foot in his wheelchair and he said, what are you going to do about it? 240 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:29,880 There's a chair right over there. 241 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:31,880 I'm like, fine. 242 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:32,880 All right. 243 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:34,720 Then I was hooked. 244 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:39,840 He literally handed it to me, the smallest guy on the court, handed it to the big guy 245 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,760 and everything and I'm like, I can't let this happen. 246 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,600 You get the competitive juices flowing again. 247 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:47,800 It was, yep. 248 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:52,880 Next thing I knew, I was in the gym three times a week playing wheelchair basketball. 249 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,000 What do you think? 250 00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:00,320 Then that carried over into the next season of playing wheelchair softball with those 251 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:01,320 guys. 252 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:02,320 Yeah. 253 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:10,680 What drew you in addition to clearly this competitive drive of needing to be excellent 254 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:16,880 at sports that you compete in, but what do you think drew you to wheelchair basketball 255 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:18,920 and some of those sports? 256 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:25,160 Again, it was just the athletes that were out there. 257 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:31,360 They said that I should be doing it and that I belong and their acceptance of me was huge 258 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:39,280 and then again, like you said, if you're a competitor, you just are and you have that 259 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:44,600 drive and you want to get better and that's what I saw from then on out. 260 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:49,800 At what point did you start coaching cross country and track and field? 261 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:55,800 I was coaching the whole time that I was running, so back in the 90s. 262 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,120 I was always coaching cross country, indoor and outdoor track. 263 00:19:59,120 --> 00:20:04,640 I was thankful to the schools that I was at because they would allow me to go off and 264 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:08,000 still compete all around the world. 265 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:15,400 How were your athletes receptive to you as an amputee? 266 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:19,680 Do you think they questioned your ability as a coach? 267 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:24,800 At least, I guess you have a physical disability that you can still ambulate in and you can 268 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,260 still run and you have this prolific and accomplished career. 269 00:20:28,260 --> 00:20:34,760 Do you think if you were maybe a wheelchair user trying to coach people on running, it 270 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:37,360 would be received differently? 271 00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:39,080 I would hope not. 272 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:44,360 I would hope that if you have the knowledge and ability to be able to coach and you were 273 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:51,640 the best candidate to be in that position, you'd get the job and the kids would be welcoming 274 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:52,640 of that. 275 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:59,440 My friend Tim Morris, who's a wheelchair user, is a track and field coach out at a high school 276 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:01,120 in New Hampshire. 277 00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:05,920 I know they've had some very accomplished runners and he does an awesome job with that. 278 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:11,120 I sometimes wonder the same thing, whether there's any negative beliefs or self-limiting 279 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:15,040 beliefs that people have about coaches. 280 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:16,920 I would say definitely not. 281 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:22,400 Again, if you go and you care and you show the athletes that you care and you see their 282 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:26,760 improvement throughout the season, that's what counts. 283 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:33,120 What have been maybe your biggest highlights or moments that maybe stick out as a coach? 284 00:21:33,120 --> 00:21:37,920 Oh boy, there are way too many. 285 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:44,880 I've had numerous state champions that I've worked with over the years and I'm not going 286 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:52,240 to name them because I do not want to miss anybody, but they all know who they are and 287 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:57,280 still in touch with a number of them, thankfully to Facebook. 288 00:21:57,280 --> 00:22:01,520 Facebook is great, even though it crashed earlier today for us. 289 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:03,520 Yeah, that was weird. 290 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:07,200 Actually, now that you mentioned that, I was having trouble with it earlier. 291 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:08,200 That's fine. 292 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:14,400 I hadn't even looked into whether it was a nationwide crash. 293 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:22,200 Early 2000s, you coached some Paralympic sports as well at the Edmonton Games, World Championship 294 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:23,200 Games in Edmonton? 295 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:31,160 Yes, I was selected as the 2001 World Championship coach for amputees over in Edmonton, Canada. 296 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:39,360 That was a big thrill and honor knowing that I had just pretty much finished up my running 297 00:22:39,360 --> 00:22:46,120 in Sydney the year before and was able to take on a responsibility like that. 298 00:22:46,120 --> 00:22:52,320 Again, seeing the athletes, being able to compete and just being there with friends 299 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:57,840 and everything else, they were able-bodied athletes like Calvin Davis of Dorchester was 300 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:02,960 running the 400 and hurdles and everything else back then at the World Championships. 301 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:11,080 He's a bronze medalist from 1996 in the 400 meter hurdles and just rubbing elbows with 302 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:13,880 those guys was pretty good. 303 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:19,400 Are there unique training protocols or approaches that you have to take when training an amputee 304 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:22,440 as opposed to a traditional runner? 305 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:26,000 Does the wear and tear on the body differ? 306 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,780 It definitely does. 307 00:23:28,780 --> 00:23:33,720 Quality fits is huge. 308 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:39,000 It's such an intimate product, having a running blade and everything, and you do need a quality 309 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:45,160 fit, proper alignment is very, very important because that's what gives that spring and 310 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:49,760 everything else from the running blade. 311 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:57,240 All those things need to be looked at properly and busting out the video cameras and recording 312 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:01,920 everything back then was important. 313 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:06,440 Maybe let's segue into a fitness environment then. 314 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:12,320 If you were to go into a gym and want to work with a personal trainer, what would you want 315 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:18,280 them to ask you about your disability and what would you want to maybe not speak about 316 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,520 just from an etiquette and a communication standpoint? 317 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:28,840 Again, with going in being in an environment like that, it's an open door policy. 318 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:33,840 The trainer needs to know everything about you and they should know everything about 319 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:34,840 you. 320 00:24:34,840 --> 00:24:38,840 I wouldn't want to keep any secrets because that's how you get hurt. 321 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:44,560 I knew when I was lifting and everything, when I was doing some heavy lifting with squats 322 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:51,280 and everything, I had to get a leg made that could handle that weight. 323 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:56,520 I wouldn't want my trainer not to know that because guess what? 324 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:04,720 I get in just on a regular walking leg and I could snap it and get hurt. 325 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:09,480 So it's those things that yeah, a trainer needs to go and ask how much pressure can 326 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:12,600 you put on that. 327 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:19,600 How can a fitness professional be better prepared to support the needs of amputees? 328 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:23,680 Going and again, asking any and all questions. 329 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:26,360 Communication is the key. 330 00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:36,040 The amputee themselves might not even know what they don't need for help and assistance. 331 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:41,440 The communication is one of the categories in the six C's that you mentioned, being 332 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:44,320 into role to your success as an athlete and a coach. 333 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:47,640 Do you want to maybe elaborate on that a little bit? 334 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:48,640 Yeah. 335 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:56,080 So I have my motto is the six C's to succeed, courage, commitment, character, class, confidence, 336 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:58,600 and most importantly, communication. 337 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:03,680 And I look at those and it's something my high school coach had. 338 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:04,720 He had the five C's. 339 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:10,360 I added the communication because this day and age, it's the most important thing that 340 00:26:10,360 --> 00:26:14,240 is needed out there to get across. 341 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,800 But you go and look at it and you start off with courage. 342 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:25,200 You have to be one willing to step up and do things, making that full commitment. 343 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:28,760 Don't go and be, oh yeah, maybe so. 344 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:30,240 No, make the commitment. 345 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:32,280 Go and get it done. 346 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:36,480 Having that courage, like I said, to go and get it done. 347 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:41,080 The confidence, believe in yourself. 348 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:47,160 Having that class, being a class act, being a classy person, showing good sportsmanship 349 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:48,160 and everything. 350 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,160 What am I missing? 351 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,040 I think you hit all six there. 352 00:26:54,040 --> 00:27:00,320 I think character, but that goes in with class to a degree. 353 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:08,000 Communication still seems to be one of the main barriers to people interacting and more 354 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,040 effectively supporting people with disabilities. 355 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:18,480 I don't know, just a concern of what to say and misspeak or use terminology that's not 356 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:20,160 well received by the individual. 357 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:26,560 Yeah, and again, in this day and age, yes, we all are politically correct and looking 358 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:29,360 to be politically correct. 359 00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:36,200 But if you're wanting to learn, I tell everybody, I wear shorts year round for a reason. 360 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:39,280 All right, ask me. 361 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:43,240 It's great when I go into a store and the little kid's going, mommy, mommy, look at 362 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:45,080 this and everything else. 363 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:49,900 The mom's like whisking the kid off and I'm like, oh, let me go and go back there and 364 00:27:49,900 --> 00:27:55,040 have a chat and everything because I want the kid to go and ask the question so that 365 00:27:55,040 --> 00:28:01,840 he's accepting or she's accepting of somebody later on in life with a disability. 366 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:07,360 Yeah, that parental response is basically reinforcing the idea like, oh, don't talk 367 00:28:07,360 --> 00:28:11,440 to the person who looks different or don't interact with anyone with a disability because 368 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:13,160 you don't want to offend them. 369 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:22,040 But I know it might get tiring for someone like you to a degree to always have to be 370 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:26,680 in that educational position. 371 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:33,600 I know when we talked to Nico, he said he has no problem having those conversations, 372 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:39,240 but sometimes when he's just doing his rudimentary tasks at the grocery store, he doesn't want 373 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:43,600 necessarily people to come up to him and tell him how inspirational he is for being at 374 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:46,600 the grocery store. 375 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:47,600 And that's the thing. 376 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:57,280 It's like, yes, in certain roles, we are inspirational to people, but do I look at myself that way? 377 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:06,680 No, I'm just going to go about doing my everyday things that I need to get done for myself. 378 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:12,080 And when did you first become involved with Achilles, which is how I was initially introduced 379 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,280 to you a year or two ago? 380 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:20,040 Were you involved as an athlete before you became the Boston chapter? 381 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:30,640 So way back when, yes, Achilles went and reached out to getting some of the best amputees around 382 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:32,880 to do a couple of events. 383 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:39,720 One was the Fifth Avenue Mile and the other was the Ocean to Sound Relay, and they were 384 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:43,240 both in New York. 385 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:46,480 I ended up winning the Fifth Avenue Mile on Saturday. 386 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:51,800 We ran the relay together on Sunday and pretty much it was like six people each doing two 387 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:56,840 different legs of various distances in this relay. 388 00:29:56,840 --> 00:30:01,840 While they put me in on the first leg for a leg amputee, it was on the boardwalk for 389 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:04,560 five miles. 390 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:09,760 And then I got to the handoff area and nobody was there. 391 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:13,360 I probably got seven miles in when one of the guys jumped out of the van. 392 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:15,000 I'm like, where have you guys been? 393 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:17,560 Oh, we didn't think you were going to be running that fast. 394 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:21,160 I'm like, what are we doing? 395 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:27,300 And then later on that day, I had another seven mile leg to do for the event. 396 00:30:27,300 --> 00:30:33,400 We did really well, but I went afterwards and I told those guys, I'm like, I'm never 397 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,880 competing with you guys or for you guys again. 398 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:42,280 You had an arm amputee that could have run that lead off leg for us and been fine on 399 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:45,280 the boardwalk. 400 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:50,640 I told them it was unprofessional and everything to be doing that. 401 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:54,640 Then nobody's there at the handoff and everything. 402 00:30:54,640 --> 00:31:06,040 So then a few years later, quite a few years later, I had worked with and spoken at Harvard 403 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:09,640 and Nicky Maxwell was one of their athletes. 404 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:19,640 He was the first NCAA Division I athlete to compete with a running blade, below knee amputee 405 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:22,160 as well. 406 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:29,200 I was helping him and everything and again, just talking to the team and everything as 407 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:30,800 a motivational speaker. 408 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:36,700 And then a couple of years after he graduated, he went and did an internship for Achilles 409 00:31:36,700 --> 00:31:39,480 International in New York. 410 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:44,040 And this job opened up and he's called me and said, Joe, I think it'd be perfect for 411 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:45,040 it. 412 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:47,520 And sure enough, he wasn't wrong. 413 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:53,480 It's my passion to give back to those who are physically challenged. 414 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:54,480 Yeah. 415 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:55,480 Yeah. 416 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:57,080 We'll talk more about Achilles in a second. 417 00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:02,600 You had mentioned the boardwalk and it just made me kind of think of maybe we can quickly 418 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:11,080 highlight what 5Ks or road races could do to make their course more accessible for athletes 419 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:13,080 with physical disabilities. 420 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:18,560 Yeah, that's a question that's really good. 421 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:26,160 Again, if it's a race that's been around, I don't think that they need to change in 422 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:30,520 my opinion, especially if it has some history to it. 423 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:37,020 It's like, maybe we should be the ones to adapt and get used to it in some way. 424 00:32:37,020 --> 00:32:40,480 Is there a way for us to adapt to it? 425 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:48,000 Whether it would be a wheelchair user switching up different tires to push through a part 426 00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:54,800 of the course that is tough and difficult to get through. 427 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:59,400 And again, you don't want to lose that tradition in my opinion. 428 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:05,360 Having been an able-bodied athlete to now being someone who is physically challenged, 429 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:13,880 I went and still competed on courses that were trail runs and everything else. 430 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:17,600 If I wanted to as an amputee, I got it done. 431 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:21,880 It should be the same for anybody in that situation. 432 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:26,120 If there's a way to get it done, adapt to it and get it done. 433 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:34,120 So if it's not necessarily a race director having to completely overhaul a course, what 434 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:42,720 can someone do to create a more inclusive event or be more welcoming of a diverse population? 435 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:44,600 That's a better question. 436 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:48,520 If they're going to go and come up with a new race and everything, how can they make 437 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:51,400 it fully accessible to everybody? 438 00:33:51,400 --> 00:34:00,040 Yeah, make sure they're on difficult parts, not too many turns, especially for someone 439 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:03,040 in a wheelchair. 440 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:07,200 That's something you want to get your speed up, you want to keep your speed up, you want 441 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:10,440 to keep rolling. 442 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:17,240 But you could still go and have different types of races and everything, have trail 443 00:34:17,240 --> 00:34:21,280 races that are fully trail races. 444 00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:26,360 You can go and accomplish that in a hand cycle for instance. 445 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:28,960 Yeah, absolutely. 446 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:35,240 So Achilles as an organization has chapters all around the country, maybe all around the 447 00:34:35,240 --> 00:34:38,760 world. 448 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:43,840 What is the premise of the nonprofit organization or what are the programs and services that 449 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:45,160 they offer? 450 00:34:45,160 --> 00:34:46,160 Nice. 451 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:52,920 Yeah, so with Achilles, our biggest thing is we are looking to be fully inclusive for 452 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:58,120 anybody and everybody looking to go walk, run, roll. 453 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:05,840 Plus now we've started Achilles Try, which is our triathlon group, so you're involved 454 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:08,680 in swimming. 455 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:11,600 We want you guys out there, we want everybody out there. 456 00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:15,840 If you think you're an athlete, if you don't think you're an athlete, we want you to come 457 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:17,360 out and move. 458 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:19,200 That's the biggest thing. 459 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:25,920 You look at our population of how many people do have a disability just here in the US. 460 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:30,840 Just like 26% of Americans have some sort of disability. 461 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:34,920 How many of those people are active? 462 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:42,960 It goes and builds into that character and everything in which you can go and feel good 463 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:49,600 about yourself to go out and accomplish things with others too. 464 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:52,320 And that community is everything as well. 465 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:59,680 We're a welcoming community for everybody and we do all different types of other social 466 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:06,720 activities as well, whether it's pizza parties or coffee and donuts, going out bowling with 467 00:36:06,720 --> 00:36:08,000 the group. 468 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:11,560 Even those who are visually impaired are allowed to come out and go bowling with us. 469 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:18,320 So again, all of our events are fully inclusive for anybody and everybody that wants to be 470 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:20,760 a part of Achilles. 471 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:26,840 If someone wants to learn more about it or get involved with a local chapter, we can 472 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:28,000 put it in the show notes. 473 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:31,840 But do you know where they would go to do so? 474 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:40,920 You could go right onto Achilles International's website and feel free to post if this is going 475 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:45,800 out to mainly Massachusetts or New England and everything. 476 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:52,320 We have our Achilles International Boston Facebook page, Instagram is Achilles Boston 477 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:53,320 on Instagram. 478 00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:59,560 And feel free to shoot my email in there as well, jlamar.achillesinternational.org. 479 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:06,240 Do you know what the process is like for someone that might be interested in starting a chapter 480 00:37:06,240 --> 00:37:11,440 if there's not already a chapter in their environment? 481 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:15,680 If there's not a chapter right away in their environment, we do have what's called our 482 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:17,240 USA chapter. 483 00:37:17,240 --> 00:37:23,320 So that's basically for those individuals that are spread out all over the place. 484 00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:31,120 And what we do there is our Achilles chapter lead there goes and we'll find guides in their 485 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:34,280 area to match them up with if they're in need of guides. 486 00:37:34,280 --> 00:37:40,040 And then again, once we do big events, like if they're racing in Boston, they come and 487 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:47,160 they're part of our family in Boston and we get the 80 people together and hotel dinners 488 00:37:47,160 --> 00:37:51,120 and Red Sox game and everything else. 489 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:55,520 How many bibs do you guys have for Boston this year, do you know? 490 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:58,240 How many people competing? 491 00:37:58,240 --> 00:38:00,680 I believe we're in the sixties. 492 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:01,960 Yeah, that's awesome. 493 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:02,960 Yeah. 494 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:09,400 A large percentage of the hand cycles are from Achilles International, if I remember correctly. 495 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:10,400 Yeah. 496 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:11,400 Yeah. 497 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:13,520 Mostly our freedom team riders. 498 00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:16,640 So that's our vatring group. 499 00:38:16,640 --> 00:38:20,000 You know, and that goes with other groups that we have. 500 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:27,400 You know, we do have two different kids opportunities with not only being a part of the chapter, 501 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:34,520 but also a kids learn kids, kids learn program. 502 00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:37,960 Let's edit that one because I totally butchered it. 503 00:38:37,960 --> 00:38:39,720 That's fine. 504 00:38:39,720 --> 00:38:43,840 That's the point was the point was well communicated. 505 00:38:43,840 --> 00:38:50,440 So I think I don't know the statistics off hand, but I think there are people believe 506 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:58,360 that most amputees are veterans, but a large percentage of amputations don't come from 507 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:01,240 combat related injuries. 508 00:39:01,240 --> 00:39:02,240 That's very true. 509 00:39:02,240 --> 00:39:03,840 I get asked all the time. 510 00:39:03,840 --> 00:39:09,880 I was just at DW Fields Park walking Sunday and a guy stops me on a mic and everything 511 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:10,880 and he's like, are you a veteran? 512 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:14,480 And I'm like, no, he's like, you're doing a great job. 513 00:39:14,480 --> 00:39:15,480 Keep it up. 514 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:16,480 I'm like, thanks. 515 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:17,480 Thanks. 516 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:22,120 You know, you know, and it's, it's one of the aggravating things though, when you go 517 00:39:22,120 --> 00:39:27,760 places and they ask if you're a veteran and you say no, and they'll still say, but if 518 00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:30,920 you say that you are, you get comped discounts. 519 00:39:30,920 --> 00:39:34,480 I'm like, but I'm not. 520 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:38,720 That's pretty crazy. 521 00:39:38,720 --> 00:39:43,280 People initiate that conversation and I know they want to say thank you to you. 522 00:39:43,280 --> 00:39:47,040 If you say that, yes, I am a veteran, but then they're probably like, oh shoot, what 523 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:48,040 did I get myself into? 524 00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:54,600 And they ask that question and you're like, how do I, how do I recover? 525 00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:56,800 It shows me it's all right. 526 00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:58,560 I'm fine. 527 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:04,140 We try to get all of our guests to give a little bit of insight into what the fitness 528 00:40:04,140 --> 00:40:08,840 industry or gyms as a whole could do to be more accessible. 529 00:40:08,840 --> 00:40:11,100 Do you have any advice? 530 00:40:11,100 --> 00:40:16,360 Maybe if someone owns a gym or if someone is entering the field as a personal trainer 531 00:40:16,360 --> 00:40:17,720 or a strength coach. 532 00:40:17,720 --> 00:40:18,720 Yeah. 533 00:40:18,720 --> 00:40:22,360 I go and look at equipment that's there. 534 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:23,720 Is it fully accessible? 535 00:40:23,720 --> 00:40:27,620 You know, can you go bring a wheelchair up in it? 536 00:40:27,620 --> 00:40:35,520 You know, what equipment can you go and have for those athletes, you know, that might need 537 00:40:35,520 --> 00:40:41,680 different equipment, you know, than what's normal in a gym and everything else, you know? 538 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:45,960 And some of the easy things are like something like a crank cycle. 539 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:49,520 You know, it doesn't cost that much and everything else. 540 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:50,520 Yeah. 541 00:40:50,520 --> 00:40:56,780 If an athlete misses out due to the weather and everything in their area, that's something 542 00:40:56,780 --> 00:41:04,640 that can be, you know, low budget and allow people who are in wheelchairs to go right 543 00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:07,520 into the gym and start cranking to get their work in. 544 00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:08,520 Yeah, absolutely. 545 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:20,760 So, pieces of equipment, I think sometimes too, there's lower economic investments just 546 00:41:20,760 --> 00:41:27,080 culturally among the staff and among the community and the expectation that whether you have 547 00:41:27,080 --> 00:41:32,120 a disability or not, you're going to be fully immersed within the community is important 548 00:41:32,120 --> 00:41:36,040 as well, which is something like that Achilles promotes. 549 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:37,040 Yeah, absolutely. 550 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:43,160 Well, Joe, thank you for sharing your story, sharing your expertise. 551 00:41:43,160 --> 00:41:48,040 I'll be leveraging it more over the next couple of months as I prepare for our 5K. 552 00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:52,040 So, we'll stay in touch and I'll bounce some ideas off of you. 553 00:41:52,040 --> 00:41:56,880 But thankful to have you in our network and thanks for taking the time to talk today. 554 00:41:56,880 --> 00:41:59,560 No, you're welcome, Brendan. 555 00:41:59,560 --> 00:42:05,080 If I have one message to get across to everybody, you know, it would be to let everybody know 556 00:42:05,080 --> 00:42:07,400 that sports is for everybody. 557 00:42:07,400 --> 00:42:12,280 No matter what your ability, there's always a way to go and adapt to get it done. 558 00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:14,580 Thank you for listening to the AdaptX Podcast. 559 00:42:14,580 --> 00:42:17,920 Our effort to amplify the ideas of our guests and create more inclusive and accessible and 560 00:42:17,920 --> 00:42:21,560 diverse industries is futile unless these episodes reach a larger audience. 561 00:42:21,560 --> 00:42:25,440 If you enjoyed our discussion today, please leave us a rating or review on whichever platform 562 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:26,440 you use. 563 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:29,460 And if you would like to learn more about AdaptX, the course that we teach to health 564 00:42:29,460 --> 00:42:33,300 and fitness professionals and the projects that our organization is working on, you can 565 00:42:33,300 --> 00:42:37,720 subscribe to our newsletter through our website www.adaptx.org. 566 00:42:37,720 --> 00:42:48,400 Until next Monday.